Slovaks protest Fico’s plans to protect corruption

Opposition to the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico is growing as it seeks to pass legislation that would dissolve the special prosecutor’s office that oversees high-profile corruption cases, reduce penalties for corruption and weaken whistleblower protection.

Led by the opposition, protesters will stage protests in at least eight cities on Tuesday, marking a third round of anti-government protests after less than 100 days since the parliamentary elections that put Fico and his new government in power.

“We will keep increasing the pressure, as that is the only thing Robert Fico understands. We are determined to continue until his government withdraws ‘the pro-mafia package’,” said Michal Šimečka, chairman of the leading opposition party Progressive Slovakia (Renew Europe).

Fico’s push to reform legislation that would potentially violate EU law has also received strong criticism from Brussels, with the European Commission urging Slovakia not to rush into changes and threatening it with infringement proceedings.

In a country of 5.4 million people, thousands participated in protests across several cities. In Bratislava, the turnout was the highest, reaching the milestone of 10,000-15,000 people. Protesters waving Slovak and European Union flags shouted slogans such as: “Enough of Fico!”

“I went to the protest because I do not like how offensive Fico is, and I do not consider the abolition of the Special Prosecutor’s Office to be a good step. It is like ruling politicians think that after winning the elections, they can do everything they want,” a participant of last week’s protest in Bratislava told Euractiv Slovakia.

Civil activists and organisations are also mobilising, including For a Decent Slovakia, which in 2018 organised the protests that followed the murder of Slovak investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and ultimately led to Fico resigning as prime minister.

Protesting citizens have also signed petitions and letters opposing the government’s proposed changes to the country’s criminal laws.

On Wednesday, NGOs sent a letter to the European Parliament and the Commission with over 30,000 signatures alongside the father of murdered journalist Ján Kuciak and the mother of his fiancée Martina Kušnírová.

Another appeal called “Zastavme ich!” (Let’s stop them!), organised by the opposition, has already been signed by more than 63,000 people. (Natália Silenská | Euractiv.sk)